For most of Tony Bennett's life, two factors have ruled.

"I've always loved music and art," says Bennett, who turned 80 on Aug. 3. "It's been so beautiful to be blessed with a passion."

And now he's worked with his logical counterpart. That's Rob Marshall, who directed "Tony Bennett: An American Classic."

Marshall is the director of the movies "Chicago" and "Memoirs of a Geisha." He makes music and pictures blend beautifully.

That makes him a lot like Bennett. "He has this great energy ... and this incredible visual sense," Marshall says.

Bennett, who is also a painter, has done some specials that were strong on visuals. The new one takes that to an extreme. "It's really 10 little films," Marshall says.

Some of the settings are spectacular. Marshall re-created the jazz era of New York, the Rat Pack era of Las Vegas, even a make-believe TV show.

More spectacular are the duet partners. There are classic names — Barbra Streisand, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Diana Krall. There are also the relative newcomers: Michael Bublé, John Legend and Christina Aguilera.